Wrights Hill Fortress, Military battery in Karori, New Zealand

Wrights Hill Fortress is a coastal defense facility near Wellington that was built underground. Approximately 620 meters of concrete tunnels connect three gun positions to one another.

Construction began in 1942 after the gun manufacturer promised delivery within a year, and the two remaining 9.2-inch guns were installed by the end of 1944, before the war ended. The No. 1 gun fired three rounds into Cook Strait on 28 June 1946 and No. 2 on 26 March 1947; these were the only shots the fortress ever fired. The guns were sold for scrap in 1960 and the pits filled in 1961.

The site shows how New Zealanders worked to protect their coastline during World War II and what construction methods they chose for this purpose. Today visitors can see how the facility, with its underground design, reflects the military thinking of that era.

The fortress opens on national holidays including Waitangi Day, ANZAC Day, the King's Birthday and Labour Day, and at other times by prior arrangement. Visits cover the 620 m tunnel network linking the gun pits, magazines, plotting rooms and engine room, some of it over 15 m below ground. Bring a jacket, as the tunnels are unheated.

The guns that were built to defend against Japan were sold as scrap metal to Japan in 1960. This is an ironic chapter in the fortress's history.